AL'S ORCHESTRAL CAREER AND BIO

Al's first job was in 1926 at Birmingham's Lyric Theatre, a one week booking with the `Romeo and his Juliet's' band of the Romeo brothers, whose father would pick him up at school, doing 3 vaudeville shows a day.

Still not quite 14, he joined the orchestra of banjo artist, George Evans, which played along the Gulf Coast during the summer of 1927. He was taken into the union by means which would not stand close scrutiny as he was 2 years under the minimum age for union membership.

In the fall of 1927 he was hired to play in the Forest Club in New Orleans, where his parents relocated from Birmingham, AL.

In 1927 age 15, he became the first alto sax/clarinet in the Orpheum Theater house orchestra in New Orleans, doing big time vaudeville acts (Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Olsen and Johnson, Blackston (magician) Joan Davis, Ritz bros., among them After the last show he would play from 11:30pm to 5 am at a night club called the Frolics. This lasted until July 1933.

Leaving New Orleans for New York, he stopped by Atlantic Cityto see a friend and after an audition for Isham Jones , was hired for his orchestra as a sax soloist. After union rules barred him from continuing with Jones for a 6 month engagement at the Commodore Hotel in New York, he became a free lance musician while waiting out the time to get his New York Union card.

In the spring of 1936 he joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra as first chair alto sax/clarinet and featured soloist. The orchestra disbanded in 1940 In 1947 Paul Whiteman became the Musical Director for WJZ Radio ( which later became ABC radio) Paul Whiteman asked Frank Vangnoni, who was the Musical Contractor for Wiz to contact Al and ask him to join the staff as a soloist. Al joined, and over twenty arrangements were written for him. He performed up to four live solos per week for WJZ and stayed with them until 1967. He doubts that any other musician has played as may live solos on the air as he has.

In October of 1948 , under the direction of Paul Whiteman, Al went on a 29 day tour. On the tour he performed an extremely elaborate three-way concerto (music by George Gershwin) The concerto consisted of the following:

1st Movement Summertime on Alto Sax

2nd Movement Bess, you is my Woman on Bass Clarinet

3rd Movement Liza on B flat Clarinet

In October of 1940 he started with the orchestra of "It Happens on Ice" show where he stayed until the summer of 1943. Sonya Heine, famous ice skater, sponsored the show but did not perform.

He joined the NBC Symphony in June 1942 where he played bass clarinet under Toscanini and Stokowski, as well as Dr. Frank Black.

From 1967 to date he has free lanced in New York, making countless records on various labels as well as playing for dozens of radio and TV programs.

Moving to Oneonta, NY in 1981, Al continued to play with local groups and teaching until 2008.

BIODuring a professional career spanning an amazing nine decades, Alfred J. Gallodoro has played his saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet in all forms and venues of music - - - from vaudeville houses to New Orleans speak-easies, from night clubs to symphonies, and from Carnegie Hall to international jazz festivals. (North Sea at The Hague, and Breda Jazz Festivals in Holland!) His longest association (nearly four decades) was with the “King of Jazz” Paul Whiteman, where Gallodoro played lead 1st alto sax, as well as clarinet and bass clarinet for the orchestra. Hence, the nickname, Triple Threat! He was a regularly featured “front stage” soloist on live broadcasts spanning from the 1930’s through the 1970’s, and even continues those live radio performances today with regular appearances on North East Public Radio!

Al was featured in 2002 on CBS’ Sunday Morning, and has also been the topic of a PBS documentary, the Al Gallodoro Story. In 2005 Alfred J. Gallodoro received an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Hartwick College in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement in music performance and teaching. His admirers include more than just saxophone aficionados - - -- he recently appeared twice atCornell University's Weill Medical College for concerts AND as the subject of an extensive interview on longevity and vitality. Holding the distinction of having the world’s record for the most performances of the clarinet slide in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (OVER 10,000 TIMES), Gallodoro was called upon in April 2006 to perform the piece in NYC with the Grammy-nominated, Harmonie Ensemble Orchestra. Needless to say, he brought down the house! The Gallodoro Serenade, which was written for Al in 1958 by Ferde Grofe had its NYC premiere performance and recording with the Harmonie Ensemble with pianist Lincoln Mayorga in 2004 and was released in the Fall of 2006!

One can often detect a classical vein running throughout Gallodoro’s art of improvisation. Perhaps it is this unique ability to effortlessly bridge both the idioms of jazz and classical music that so endears him to a broad variety of fans young and old. To this day, Gallodoro has been unmatched in his virtuosity. At 93 years young, Gallodoro continued to thrill his listeners with his impeccable musicianship and incredible mastery of his instruments. He can arguably be regarded as the greatest saxophone/clarinet virtuoso in history. (And he even lent his saxophone to Harpo Marx!)

With 8 CD’s to his credit, a music video, Gallodoro maintained an active performance, recording and teaching schedule. His music video CLOSE YOUR EYES, and Saxophone Contrasts/for your listening pleasure CD (best Historical CD category) were both submitted by Chmusic Productions in July 2006 for Grammy consideration for the 2007 awards. In fact, he is one of only 14 artists who recorded before 1940 that was still active and recording in 2007! With a bit of Southern flair, credited to his Birmingham and New Orleans roots, the Mediterranean influence of his Sicilian heritage, and the sounds attributed to nearly six decades of working in New York City, Dr. Alfred J. Gallodoro (born June 20, 1913) is still absolutely inimitable!

CONDUCTORS AL HAS PLAYED WITH:

With a career of over 80 years, Al Gallodoro did it all! Beginning his professional career at the age of 13, Gallodoro has performed in Vaudeville houses as well as to packed symphonies.

With his longest association being the lead 1st alto sax, clarinetist and bass clarinetist for the "King of Jazz, Paul Whiteman, Al was a regularly featured "front stage" as soloist on tunes such as Beebe and Nola (soon to be released performances originally recorded in the 1930's & 40's).

In 2004 and 2006, Al had the distinction of working with Grammy nominated Conductor, Steven Richman and theHarmonie Ensemble/New York when he returned to NYC, for two concerts and recordings.

In 2004, Gallodoro, accompanied by Lincoln Mayorga on piano, performed and did the premiere recording of GALLODORO'S SERENADE (composed for Gallodoro by Ferde Grofe) which was released in October, 2006 as part of Steven Richman's Grofe CDIn 2006, Al and Richman performed the Rhapsody in Blue for which he holds the distinction of having performed the clarinet slide over 10,000 times with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra! This, along with other Gershwin pieces, including Gallodoro'sperformance of Fascinating Rhythm (arr. Grofe) will be part of yet another exciting Richman-HE/NY CD release that is now in the works.

MOVIE APPEARANCES1940 Al also played with the Whiteman Orchestra in "Strike Up The Band" starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, June 1940 MGM Studios, Culver City, CA.

1943 with the Whiteman Orchestra, Al played the clarinet part in the Warner Brothers movie ,"The Rhapsody in Blue" with Oscar Levant at the piano. Robert Alda played Gershwin.